Criticizing others your thing?

 

 I awoke, as usual, thinking about a thing or two—specifically, about how others seem to spend their time criticizing other people for their deficiencies.  So, after lying in bed for more than just a bit of time with this on my mind, what do you suppose I did?  Well, I got up and walked out front to pick up my morning paper.  And, as I did that, things just seemed to come into focus a bit better.

 

Other people a problem?   Well, pilgrim, how about backing up just a bit and taking a look at something you might just be able to do something about.  How about yourself?

 

Hmmmm, there’s a subject you have been ignoring altogether too long, I suspect, and if you don’t believe me, how about asking my wife.  She is the one who got me thinking about this, you see, She with another year under her belt as of yesterday.  She, whose daughter and grandson dropped in about an hour after we should have had dinner, bringing flowers and smiles and just a bit more—love.  She, who deserves much better.  Much better than she got from me, that is. 

 

And why do I bring up my wife and our relationship.  Well, it’s because while I was walking out to get MY morning paper, I began to think about just a few of you who never seem to be able to criticize anybody other than anybody other than yourselves.  He did this.  He did that.  What’s wrong with Him???

 

That’s what this discussion was to be about.  Not just me.  Not just why I have spent so much time thinking about others and not about myself and how I might make things better for my wife and myself.  I mean, what is really important here?  What indeed.  Is the problem the things I see and hear from you, my friend?   Or is it that guy in the mirror? 

 

No, I suspect “either—or” doesn’t work here.  The problem is in both of us.  I first need to do whatever I can to make things right in my own house.  Then, maybe, I might be able to move on to point out problems I see with you, too.  That’s all I can say.  My turn is today.